On May 17, the 25th anniversary gala for the Washington Times was held in the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. More than 1,100 leading figures in politics, culture, and journalism representing 82 nations took part in the celebration.

Key participants for that day were Washington Times founders, Dr. Rev. Sun-Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, Dr. Hyun-jin Moon, president of YFWP, Dr. Chung Hwan Kwak, chairman of UPF, Mr. Dong Moon Joo, chairman of Washington Times, and many others.

US president George W. Bush, UN Secretary-general Ki Moon Ban, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Polish prime minister Jarosaw Kaczynski, Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa were among those who sent their messages congratulating the Washington Times for 25 years of excellent journalism.

In his message UN Secretary General Ki moon Ban congratulated the Washington Times for being a champion of democracy and the free press and for contributing to peace.

Lady Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom emphasized that "conservative views will never be drowned out. And, if they are heard, they will prevail" and asked that the Washington Times continue its work in strengthening the Anglo-American relationship.

Mr. Dong  Moon Joo spoke of his expectations for the next 25 years and his hopes to build upon the successes the Washington Times achieved by overcoming the Cold War and Cultural War during the past 25 years.

In his keynote address, former US president George H.W. Bush noted how "The Washington Times was not shy about challenging the more established media outlets--along with what many of us felt was a prevailing liberal bias," and thanked the founder, Dr. Moon "for his vision in launching this newspaper" and reminded the audience that "without him, there would be no Washington Times."

On this day, Dr. Sun-Myung Moon delivered the founder's address entitled, "A Providential View of the Pacific Rim Era in Light of God's Will." In his address he warned that "powerful nations such as China and Russia are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to aggressively pursue their own interests with the powerless and small island nations" and emphasized that "the small island nations dispersed in both the northern and southern regions of the Pacific, on either side of the equator, as well as Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, should become as one country and form one union to sustain peace throughout the Pacific Rim civilization."

Four community leaders--Robert L. Woodson Sr., Douglas M. Johnston, Gregory H. Stanton and Michele Weiner-Davis--received the newspaper's inaugural Founding Spirit Awards, recognizing their work in community activism.